"I never thought I would come back to New Zealand but now I'm back I'm so happy.
"I worked as a financial advisor with a bank as a contractor making investments on behalf of my clients.
"That gives me great freedom in deciding when I can work or when I can play football.
"When Ramon rang me to see if I would come back my response was 'Yes, of course'," Souto said.
Souto's strengths led to him going on a scoring spree in the 2012-13 ASB Premiership and included a thunderbolt strike in a win over Canterbury United.
He replicated that goal in Tuesday's 3-0 win over Western United in Suva and Souto puts that down to his happiness to be back in a Navy Blue shirt.
"It was no problem for me to return to New Zealand.
"I'm very happy here and I love New Zealand and I love this club. I'm very happy to be back with my teammates after so long away.
"Most of the team have played with me before and I would love to help the club reach the OFC Champions League final because last time I missed out.
"It is my dream to reach the final again with Auckland City, " he said.
Standing in the way of that dream is last season's biggest threat Amicale.
Souto believes there is only one approach to take with Saturday's long awaited rematch less than two days away.
"We have to play like always and with intensity in the way the team has played over the past year.
"It is that simple. It is the way we play that matters," he said.
Auckland City FC's performances in Morocco are the benchmark according to Souto and watching from his home in Spain, he was gob smacked by the bronze medal run.
"I watched the matches in Spain and it was amazing. Auckland won the first game and you say 'Ok, wow - they made it', then they won the second, pushed San Lorenzo all the way in the semifinal, then they won the last match.
"I couldn't believe how good Auckland were in Morocco but I was very happy for the club, the players and Ramon because I knew how hard they worked.
"People in Spain asked me about Auckland City FC all the time now and the club has a very good reputation not only there but around the world," he said.
Did Souto find leaving behind the stability of contract work in the finance industry and regular third division football in Spain for another shot at OFC Champions League glory risky?
"I was playing in the third division while I was working and the intensity is sometimes not the same and I admit I became bored.
"But I love football so to play at any level is a privilege as long as my body allows it.
"It was emotional to return not only to Auckland City FC but to reconnect with friends in the city itself who I haven't seen for nearly two years.
"It is great to come back and recapture that feeling," he said.
Auckland City FC play Amicale on Saturday 18 April with the match broadcast live on Sky Sport 5.
A draw might be enough for both teams to advance to the semifinals next week.
The winner of the match qualifies for the semifinal with the loser in a lottery for the best runner up berth most probably alongside Hekari United and FC Gaitcha depending on other results.
